Press die

ABSTRACT

A press die comprises an upper die and a lower die each including a molding surface and a die main body; at least one first guide post attached to at least one of the die main bodies of the upper die and the lower die from its molding surface side; and at least one product pressing member mounted to the die main body to which the first guide post is attached so as to be slidable along the first guide post, at least one first guide hole into which the first guide post is to be inserted being formed in the product pressing member from its molding surface side. The die main body and the product pressing member mounted to the die main body undergo an alignment for each other through the first guide post.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a press die, and more specifically, to a press die in which a product pressing member is slidably provided in at least one of die main bodies of an upper die and a lower die.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004]FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a conventional press die for an automobile. This press die is one for cutting and bending and is provided with an upper die 1 and a lower die 2. The upper die 1 includes an upper die main body 3, and a pad 4 and upper die cutting and bending edges 5 which are fitted to the upper die main body 3. The pad 4 is slidably supported with respect to the upper die main body 3 in a state where it is depressed downward by springs 6, and is prevented from falling down from the upper die main body 3 while maintaining a necessary stroke by a stopper pin 7. On the other hand, the lower die 2 includes a lower die main body 8 and lower die cutting and bending edges 9 fixed to the lower die main body 8.

[0005] By setting a pressed product 10 on a molding surface 11 of the lower die main body 8 and starting the press die undergo clamping, the pressed product 10 is first pressed and fixed between a molding surface 12 of the pad 4 and the molding surface 11 of the lower die main body 8. When the distance between the upper die 1 and the lower die 2 is further narrowed, the springs 6 are compressed against their urging forces so that the peripheral portion of the pressed product 10 is cut and bent with the upper die cutting and bending edges 5 and the lower die cutting and bending edges 9.

[0006] In order to mold the pressed product 10 with the thus configured press die, the accurate alignment of the molding surface 12 of the pad 4 and the molding surface 11 of the lower die main body 8 is necessary. The alignment of the upper die main body 3 and the lower die main body 8 is performed by inserting guide posts 13 projected on the lower die main body 8 into guide holes 14 formed in the upper die main body 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the relative positional relationship between the pad 4 and the upper die main body 3 is adjusted by interposing slide plates 15 between the side surface of the pad 4 and the upper die main body 3.

[0007] Further, FIG. 11 shows a configuration of another conventional press die for the automobile. This press die is one for drawing, and is provided with an upper die 16 and a lower die 17. A molding surface 19 is formed on an upper die main body 18 in the upper die 16. On the other hand, the lower die 17 includes a lower die main body 20 and a wrinkle pressing ring 22 slidably supported by cushion pins 21 on the lower die main body 20. Molding surfaces 23 and 24 are formed on the lower die main body 20 and the wrinkle pressing ring 22, respectively.

[0008] The wrinkle pressing ring 22 is pushed up by the cushion pins 21, and a material 25 to be molded is placed thereon. The upper die main body 18 is lowered to sandwich the material 25 between the upper die main body 18 and the wrinkle pressing ring 22. By lowering the upper die main body 18 and the wrinkle pressing ring 22 together under this state, the material 25 is pressed against the molding surface 23 of the lower die main body 20 and molded into a required shape.

[0009] Also in this press die, the accurate alignment of the molding surface 19 of the upper die main body 18, the molding surface 23 of the lower die main body 20 and the molding surface 24 of the wrinkle pressing ring 22 is necessary. The alignment of the upper die main body 18 and the lower die main body 20 is performed by inserting guide posts 26 projected on the lower die main body 20 into guide holes 27 formed in the upper die main body 18. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the relative positional relationship between the wrinkle pressing ring 22 and the lower die main body 20 is adjusted by interposing slide plates 28 between the side surface of the wrinkle pressing ring 22 and the lower die main body 20.

[0010] The side surface of the pad 4 with which the slide plates 15 are in contact and the side surface of the wrinkle pressing ring 22 with which the slide plates 28 are in contact are formed using a tool such as an end mill through a completely different process from the formation of the molding surfaces of the pad 4 and the wrinkle pressing ring 22. Thus, it is difficult to perform alignment of the side surface and the molding surface with high precision. Therefore, the adjustments of the relative position between the pad 4 and the upper die main body 3 and of the relative position between the wrinkle pressing ring 22 and the lower die main body 20 are performed by temporary assembling the respective parts and manually replacing the slide plates 15 and 28.

[0011] However, since each of the molding surfaces is large in the press die for the automobile, the size and weight of the pad 4 and the wrinkle pressing ring 22 also become large, resulting in a problem in that a considerably large amount of effort and time is required in the adjustment of the relative position due to the replacement of the slide plates 15 or 28.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is made to solve the problem above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a press die which does not require manual adjustment of the relative position of each part.

[0013] A press die in accordance with the present invention comprises an upper die and a lower die each including a molding surface and a die main body; at least one first guide post attached to at least one of the die main bodies of the upper die and the lower die from its molding surface side; and at least one product pressing member mounted to the die main body to which the first guide post is attached so as to be slidable along the first guide post, at least one first guide hole into which the first guide post is to be inserted being formed in the product pressing member from its molding surface side; the die main body and the product pressing member mounted to the die main body undergoing an alignment for each other through the first guide post.

[0014] The press die adopts a method of sliding the product pressing member using the first guide post. The first guide post is fitted from the molding surface side and the first guide hole is formed from the molding surface side, thereby making an error in alignment of the die main body and the product pressing member extremely small. Therefore, no adjustment of the relative position of the respective parts is required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a press die in accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing an upper die of the press die in accordance with Embodiment 1;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a press die in accordance with Embodiment 2;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a lower die of the press die in accordance with Embodiment 2;

[0019] FIGS. 5 to 7 are cross-sectional views showing press dies in accordance with Embodiments 3 to 5, respectively;

[0020]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a main portion of a press die in accordance with Embodiment 6;

[0021]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional press die;

[0022]FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing an upper die of the press die shown in FIG. 9;

[0023]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing another conventional press die; and

[0024]FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a lower die of the press die shown in FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Embodiment 1:

[0027]FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a press die for cutting and bending in accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The press die comprises an upper die 31 and a lower die 32. The upper die 31 includes an upper die main body 33, a slidable pad 34 as a product pressing member, and upper die cutting and bending edges 35 fixed to the upper die main body 33. Guide posts 36 are projected downward from the molding surface side in the upper die main body 33, and guide holes 37 into which the guide posts 36 are to be inserted are formed in the pad 34. These guide holes 37 are formed from a molding surface 38 side of the pad 34. Guide bushes 39 as bearing members are fitted into the guide holes 37 on the molding surface 38 side thereof. The pad 34 is slidably supported with respect to the upper die main body 33 in a state where the guide posts 36 are inserted into the guide bushes 39 and the pad 34 is depressed downward by springs 40. While regulating a necessary stroke of the slide by a stopper pin 41, the pad 34 is prevented from falling down from the upper die main body 33. The pad 34 with respect to the guide posts 36 slides smoothly due to the existence of the guide bushes 39.

[0028] On the other hand, the lower die 32 includes a lower die main body 42 and lower die cutting and bending edges 43 fixed to the lower die main body 42.

[0029] Further, guide posts 44 are projected upward on the lower die main body 42. By inserting these guide posts 44 into guide holes 45 formed in the upper die main body 33, the alignment of the upper die main body 33 and the lower die main body 42 is performed. The guide holes 45 of the upper die main body 33 are formed from the molding surface side, and the guide posts 44 are projected from a molding surface 46 side of the lower die main body 42.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the upper die cutting and bending edges 35 are separated into a plurality of parts and fixed to the upper die main body 33.

[0031] Next, the operation at the time of cutting and bending with this press die will be described. By setting a pressed product 47 on the molding surface 46 of the lower die main body 42 and starting the upper die 31 undergo lowering, the pressed product 47 is first pressed and fixed between the molding surface 38 of the pad 34 and the molding surface 46 of the lower die main body 42. When the upper die 31 is further lowered, the springs 40 are compressed against their urging forces so that the peripheral portion of the pressed product 47 is cut and bent with the upper die cutting and bending edges 35 and the lower die cutting and bending edges 43.

[0032] Since the guide posts 36 of the upper die main body 33 are fitted from the molding surface side and the guide holes 45 of the upper die main body 33 are formed from the molding surface side, both of them are machined with high precision based on the common reference point for each other. Similarly, since the guide holes 37 of the pad 34 are formed from the molding surface 38 side, both of the guide holes 37 and the molding surface 38 are machined with high precision based on the common reference point for each other. Further, since the pad 34 and the upper die main body 33 undergo alignment through the guide posts 36, the alignment of the relative positional relationship between the molding surface 38 and the guide holes 45 into which the guide posts 44 of the lower die main body 42 are to be inserted is performed with high precision. As a result, there is no need to adjust the relative position using slide plates as in the conventional die.

[0033] Embodiment 2:

[0034]FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a press die for drawing in accordance with Embodiment 2. The press die comprises an upper die 51 and a lower die 52. In the upper die 51, a molding surface 54 is formed on an upper die main body 53. On the other hand, the lower die 52 includes a lower die main body 55 and a slidable wrinkle -pressing ring 56 as a product pressing member. Guide posts 58 are projected upward from a molding surface 57 side on the lower die main body 55, and guide holes 59 into which the guide posts 58 are to be inserted are formed in the wrinkle pressing ring 56. These guide holes 59 are formed from a molding surface 60 side of the wrinkle pressing ring 56. Guide bushes 61 as bearing members are fitted into the guide holes 59 on the molding surface 60 side thereof. The guide posts 58 are inserted into these guide bushes 61 and the wrinkle pressing ring 56 is slidably supported with respect to the lower die main body 55 with cushion pins 62.

[0035] Also, guide posts 63 are projected upward on the lower die main body 55. By inserting these guide posts 63 into guide holes 64 formed in the upper die main body 53, the positional adjustment of the upper die main body 53 and the lower die main body 55 is performed. The guide holes 64 in the upper die main body 53 are formed from the molding surface 54 side, and the guide posts 63 are projected from the molding surface 57 side of the lower die main body 55.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, the wrinkle pressing ring 56 is formed into a circular shape so as to enclose the molding surface 57 of the lower die main body 55.

[0037] Next, the operation at the time of drawing with this press die will be described. The wrinkle pressing ring 56 is pushed up by the cushion pins 62 and a material 65 to be molded is placed on the molding surface 60. The upper die main body 53 is lowered to sandwich the material 65 between the upper die main body 53 and the wrinkle pressing ring 56. By lowering the upper die main body 53 and the wrinkle pressing ring 56 together under this state, the material 65 is pressed against the molding surface 57 of the lower die main body 55 to be molded into a required shape.

[0038] Since the guide posts 58 and 63 of the lower die main body 55 are attached from the molding surface 57 side, both of them are fitted with high precision based on the common reference point for each other. Similarly, since the guide holes 59 of the wrinkle pressing ring 56 are formed from the molding surface 60 side, the guide holes 59 and the molding surface 60 are machined with high precision based on the common reference point for each other. Further, since the wrinkle pressing ring 56 and the lower die main body 55 undergo alignment through the guide posts 58, the alignment of the relative positional relationship among the molding surface 60 of the wrinkle pressing ring 56, the molding surface 57 of the lower die main body 55 and the guide posts 63 is performed with high precision. As a result, there is no need to adjust the relative position by using slide plates as in the conventional die.

[0039] Embodiment 3:

[0040] A configuration of a press die for cutting and bending in accordance with Embodiment 3 is shown in FIG. 5. In this press die, an upper die pad 73 is mounted to an upper die main body 71 so as to be slidable along guide posts 72. In addition, a lower die pad 77 is also mounted to a lower die main body 74 by springs 75 or cylinders so as to be slidable along guide posts 76. The guide posts 72 and 76 are fitted to the upper die main body 71 and the lower die main body 74 from their molding surfaces sides, respectively. Guide holes 78 of the upper die pad 73 and guide holes 79 of the lower die pad 77 into which the guide posts 72 and 76 are to be inserted are formed from molding surfaces 80 and 81 sides, respectively.

[0041] In this structure, the molding surface 80 of the upper die pad 73 and the molding surface 81 of the lower die pad 77 undergo positional adjustment with high precision for each other without adjusting the relative position using slide plates or the like.

[0042] Embodiment 4:

[0043] A configuration of a press die for drawing in accordance with Embodiment 4 is shown in FIG. 6. In this press die, a lower die wrinkle pressing ring 84 is mounted to a lower die main body 82 so as to be slidable along guide posts 83. In addition, an upper die wrinkle pressing ring 88 is also mounted to an upper die main body 85 by springs 86 or cylinders so as to be slidable along guide posts 87. The guide posts 83 and 87 are fitted to the lower die main body 82 and the upper die main body 85 from their molding surfaces sides, respectively. Guide holes 89 and guide holes 90 into which these guide posts 83 and 87 are to be inserted are formed in the lower die wrinkle pressing ring 84 and the upper die wrinkle pressing ring 88 from their molding surfaces sides, respectively.

[0044] In this structure, the molding surfaces of the lower die main body 82 and the upper die main body 85 and the molding surfaces of the lower die wrinkle pressing ring 84 and the upper die wrinkle pressing ring 88 undergo positional adjustment with high precision for each other without adjusting the relative position using slide plates or the like.

[0045] Embodiment 5:

[0046] A configuration of a press die for drawing in accordance with Embodiment 5 is shown in FIG. 7. This press die is configured, in the press die of Embodiment 4 shown in FIG. 6, such that an upper die punch 93 is further mounted to an upper die main body 91 so as to be slidable along guide posts 92. The guide posts 92 are attached to the upper die punch 93 from its molding surface side, and guide holes 94 into which the guide posts 92 are to be inserted are formed in the upper die main body 91 from its molding surface side.

[0047] In this structure, the molding surfaces of the lower die main body 82 and the upper die main body 91, the molding surfaces of the lower die wrinkle pressing ring 84 and the upper die wrinkle pressing ring 88 and the molding surface of the upper die punch 93 undergo positional adjustment with high precision for each other without adjusting the relative position using slide plates or the like.

[0048] Embodiment 6:

[0049] In Embodiments 1 to 5, as shown in FIG. 8, a guide hole 96 opened on a molding surface 95 of the pad or the wrinkle pressing ring may be closed with a cap member 97 forming the same surface as the molding surface 95. In this structure, an area where the guide hole 96 is formed can be used as a part of the molding surface 95 to enhance a degree of freedom of a layout in the die. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A press die comprising: an upper die and a lower die each including a molding surface and a die main body; at least one first guide post attached to at least one of the die main bodies of the upper die and the lower die from its molding surface side; and at least one product pressing member mounted to the die main body to which the first guide post is attached so as to be slidable along the first guide post, at least one first guide hole into which the first guide post is to be inserted being formed in the product pressing member from its molding surface side; the die main body and the product pressing member mounted to the die main body undergoing an alignment for each other through the first guide post.
 2. A press die according to claim 1 wherein one product pressing member is mounted to only one of the die main bodies of the upper die and the lower die.
 3. A press die according to claim 1 wherein one product pressing member is mounted to each of the die main bodies of the upper die and the lower die.
 4. A press die according to claim 1 further comprising a bearing member fitted into the first guide hole of the product pressing member on its molding surface side for slidably receiving the first guide post.
 5. A press die according to claim 1 further comprising a cap member for closing the first guide hole of the product pressing member, the cap member forming the same surface as the molding surface.
 6. A press die according to claim 1 further comprising at least one second guide post projected on one of the upper die and the lower die for being inserted into a second guide hole formed in the other of the upper die and the lower die to align the upper die and the lower die.
 7. A press die according to claim 1 further comprising spring means for elastically supporting the product pressing member with respect to the die main body.
 8. A press die according to claim 1 further comprising a stopper pin for regulating a stroke of slide of the product pressing member. 